Rubber footwear



R. E. RILEY RUBBER FOOTWEAR Dec. 1, 1931.

Original Filed Oct. 8, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inveni'or Ralph E'.

R1: Ze y, W WW De. 1, 1931. RILEY 1,834,551.

RUBBER FOOTWEAR Original Filed Oct. 8, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 By Ai'lys.

Inueni'or:

1366- 1931- R. E. RILEY RUBBER FOOTWEAR Original Filed Oct. s, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lnueni'or:

Dec. 1, 1931. R. E. RILEY 1,834,551

' RUBBER FOOTWEAR Original Filed Oct. 8, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ba lph E. Riley,

5 Atiys.

Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH E. RILEY, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASS IGNMENTS, TO MILLER RUBBER COMPANY, INC., 0]? WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE RUBBER FOOTWEAR Original application filed October 8, 1928, Serial No. 311,096. Divided and this application filed November 4, 1929. Serial No. 404,809.

This invention relates to vulcanized rubber overshoes and to the method of manufacturing the same, and is a division of my application 311,096, filed October 8, 1928, now Patent Number 1,739,612 issued Dec. 17, 1929.

One object of the inventionis to provide a light, attractive, fabric-lined, snugly fitting, rubber overshoe particularly adapted for wear by women over the ordinary high heel, low shoe and so constructed that it will accommodate itself to a variety of shoes and will extend thereabove and snugly fit about the instep and ankle.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the same is hereinafter specifically described.

A preferred construction of shoe and method of manufacturing it embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the unit forming the shoe upper.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tongue before it has been formed into bellows shape.

Fig.3 is a perspective view of the upper and tongue assembly.

Fig. 4 is a plan View illustrating the closure device attached to the upper unit.

Fig. 5 is aperspective view illustrating the application of the upper and inner sole of the shoe to the last.

Fig. 6 is a detailed perspective View showing the heel binding strip.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view illushating the heel construction.

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are perspective views illustrating further developments in the manufacturing procedure, and shown to more clearly illustrate the construction.

Figs. .11 and 12 are detailed views showing the cuff in association with the upper edge of the upper.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the shoe showing the fly strip when initially applied.

Fig. 14 is a detailed View of the buckle strap.

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view 'of the completed shoe taken about on the line 15- 15, Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a view of the outer sole, and

'Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the completed shoe, closed, and with the cuff turned down.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the top, vamp, quarters, and portions which is brought into contact with the rubber sheet 2, has calendered upon it a skim coating of an ordinary rubber compound; that is, a compound not including an ultra, or fast curing accelerator.

In the production of the upper unit, the two sheets 1 and 2 are cut from sheet material and superimposed and pressed into adhering contact with each other preferably in the manner disclosed in my aforesaid application.

The sheets 1 and 2 substantially correspond in contour, but the sheet 1 is made somewhat smaller, so that when corresponding edges 5, 6,7, and 8 of the sheets are registered, narrow marginal attaching surfaces 9, 10, 11, and 12 will be exposed on the sheet 2.

As stated, the compound which is used for the rubber sheet material is of the fast curing type. Were this compound used for the skim coating of sheet 2, the scrap could not be reused to material advantage, because a set-up or incipient vulcanization of this coating material would occur in a relatively brief time. However, after the lining sheet is initially attached to the rubber sheet as described, sufiieient migration will take place of the vulcanizing ingredients into the skim coat of the fabric to provide for the vulcanization thereof practically as rapidly as the rubber sheet, and in the same vulcanizing operation to which the latter is subjected.

This use of a slow curing compound, as the skim coat for the lining sheet, permits the scrap formed by cutting the blanks from a larger sheet to be ground up and used for any work in which a fibrous rubber compound may be employed.

After the upper blank or unit has been formed in the manner described, it is slit centrally as indicated at 13, Fig. 1. This slit opens out through the top of the blank and terminates at its lower end in a fork, or transversely extending branches 13a. As will be later described, marginal portions parallel to the slit 13 are turned back upon the face of the lining to provide the vent opening and marginal attaching flaps 14, 15. When the branches form a fork, a short attaching flap 16 is provided at the closed end of the vent opening.

The shoe illustrated is provided with a bellows tongue-shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. As illustrated, this tongue includes a substantially wedge-shaped intermediate section 17 transersely concavo-convexed and at its upper portion curving outwardly slightly, from its upper end in the direction of its length, and two side wings-18 and 19. The tongue is formed of two arrow head shaped fabric sheets preferably corresponding to the lining fabric described, superimposed upon each other with their coated faces in contact and an intermediate wedge-shaped piece of frictional fabric substantially corresponding .in contour to the intermediate section, 17-.

One of the two sheets forming the tongue is made slightly smaller than the other, so that when superimposed upon the larger sheet, marginal attaching surfaces 20, 20' and 21 will be exposed on the rubber-coated faceof the latter.

In securing the tongue in position, the marginal attaching edges 20, 20 are rolled into firm contact with the outer faces of the parts of the upper unit which forms the flaps 14, 15, and the attaching surface 21 rolled in contact with the small flap 16, which in this operation is preferably stretched transversely so that it will be more nearly corresponding in area to that of the attaching surface 21. or with the outer portion of the-sheet 2 adjacent the closed end of the vent opening.

The vent opening in the upper, formed by slitting the same and turning back the fiaps 14, 15, preferably has associated therewith a fastener device of the type comprising parallel companion tapes or woven fabric strips, known as stringers, each carrying a plurality of metallic interlocking members, a slide for engaging and disengaging these members, and a pull element for facilitating the shifting of the slide.

This fastening device is preferably 'atpached to the upper before it is placed on the ast.

In this step, the attaching faces of the stringers, or tapes 22, having had rubber cement applied thereto and dried to a tacky. condition, the upper unit is placed on a table with its lining face down, and then the stringers are rolled into adhering contact with the outer surface of the sheet 2 back of but contiguous to the edges of the vent open- 1ng.

In order to protect the closure device during the vulcanization operation and for substantially concealing this device when the shoe is worn with the fastener closed, a suitable fiy 23 is provided, consisting of a strip of sheet rubber somewhat longer and wider than the fastener device and a strip of lining fabric 24 of the substantially the width and length of themetallic inter-engaging mem bers which is secured lengthwise along the middle of the sheet rubber strip.

The inner surface of the rubber strip parallel to the longer edges of the lining thereof is pressed in firm adhering contact with the stringers back of the metallic interlocking members and the adjacent surface of the outer face of sheet 2, and with a portion thereof adjacent the closed end of the vent. Fly strip 23 is provided centrally with a finishing band 25, preferably scored. or indented, lengthwise for guiding the knife of the operator in the slitting of the same and the fly strip after vulcanization has been completed.

The upper with the parts attached .as shown in Fig. 4 or with the addition ofthe fly strip and finishing strip, is then placed about a metal last and the exposed marginal edge 9 overlapped upon and rolled into firm adhering contact with the outer face of the sheet 2, substantially parallel to the edge 7. An insole 26, having beenapplied to the last, which extends along the heel breast and over the end face of the heel, the edges of the upper are pulled over so as to overlap the sole portion of the insole, and with other portions overlapping each other upon the breast of the heel and rolled into firm adhering connection with the contacting surfaces.

The upper is now trimmed flush around the heel and-then a narrow binding 27 or rubberized fabric is applied, as shown in Fig. 6. A heel lift 28, composed ,of an outer block of thick rubber and an inner sheet of friction fabric, is now applied. A half sole 29 of friction fabric is then applied over the insole and overlapped upon portions of the upper, extending around the heel breast. A back reinforcement 30, of substantially T-shape, cut' from a sheet of friction fabric, is applied around the side face of the heel and extended up the back of the shoe for covering the rear seam described, and a back trim 31 of substantially the same shape, but made of sheet rubber, is applied over the fabric strip 3-0 and rolled down thereupon and upon the contiguous face of the sheet-2. An outsole 32 is now applied, which extends up the breast of the heel and over the face of the same and overlaps the back trim 31 contiguous to the edge of the heel. Finally, a fox'ing 33 is applied for giving the sole and heel of the shoe afinished appearance.

The shoe may be equipped with a strap at its top for giving a more finished appearance thereto and for concealing theoperating slide and pull member of the fastening device, and this stra may, if desired, be provided with a suitab e ornament, as a mock buckle member, as illustrated in the drawings, particularly Fig. 14. This strap consistsof a strip of rubber 34 of preferably the same material as the sheet 2 aforesaid, partly lined with fabric strip 35 such as that forming the sheet 1. The unlined part of strip 34 is initially pressed into firm contact with upper and is ultimately vulcanized thereto. The opposite end of this strip is equipped with a female member 36 of'a snap fastener which cooperates with the male member 36' carried by the upper. A smaller strip of rubber 37 is attached to the outer face of the strip 34-and carries the ornament 38 aforesaid. In assembling the parts for vulcanization, the strip 35 is rolled down against the face of the sheet 2 and will hold the strap in position during vulcanization, or this strip may be held back during vulcanization so that when the shoe is provided with a cuff, as will be hereinafter described, when the snap fas tener is detached, the strap will normally fold back under the cufi, if that is turned down. This may be desirable because the shoe may be worn with the upper part of the vent openings spread apart and the upper part of the tongue exposed.

A wide cufi' 39 is preferably associated with the top edge of the upper, being designed to serve as an upward extension thereof and protection for the stocking, when such protection is necessary, and to be turned down at other times. This cuff is made of rubber sheeting corresponding to the sheet 2, and is unlined, so that both sides thereof may be washed.

The cuff is made from a wide band of rubber sheeting which is overlapped at its lower edge upon the outer face of the edge of sheet 2, and the vertical edges of the band are overlapped one upon the other upon the leg portion of the last and the parts rolled down. A suitable foxing 39 is applied over the juncture of the lower edge of the band and the upper edge of the upper.

The shoe having been assembled as described, it is then vulcanized and this may be expeditiously done by hanging the last on a conveyor which passes through a hot oven where the shoe is en route subjected to'the desired vulcanizing temperature for the requisite time.

After the shoe has been vulcanized, the lin-.

ing 35 of the strap heretofore described is peeled loose from the part of the upper to which it has been lightly stuck, as before stated.

By means of a knife, the strip 25 and fly are split alongthe crease in the finishing strip.

The overlapping portion described of the cuff is also cut out and the slide fastener member of the device is manipulated for disengaging the interlocking members of the fastener so that the. vent may be opened and the shoe removed from the last. The snap fastener members are then applied to the buckle strap and to the upper of the shoe.

Since practically all of the parts are initially secured together without employing cement and are ultimately vulcanized to one another, it isunnecessary, to prevent blowing or air pockets during vulcanization, to subject the shoe to differential pressure, or a so-called pressure cure.

In the assembled unvulcanized shoe, the cuff is, as stated, in the form of a wide, endless band. This band snugly fits the leg portion of the last just above the top edge of the upper and is in this form when the shoe is vulcanized, so that it gets a permanent set which, in its upright position, will make it fit rather snugly about the leg, and in its reverse position, will cause it to hug the rear portion of the upper and present a particularly neat and attractive appearance.

The endless band is obtained, in the illustrated exemplification of the invention, by overlapping the front marginal edge portions of the band, or strip, from which the cult is made, but it is, of course, not necessary that the vertical edge portions of the band shall All be at the front of the shoe during the vul- 2- canization operation.

After the shoe has been vulcanized, the band is severed substantially in alinement with the vent opening in the upper;

I claim:

1. In a water proof overshoe and in combination an elastic, light, flexible fabric lined unit consisting of thin sheet rubber and an elastic counterpart sheet vulcanized together, said unit constituting the vamp, top,

quarters and portions of the heel of the shoe,

-said unit being divided centrally to provide 2. In a waterproof overshoe and. in combination an elastic, light, flexible, fabriclined unit formed from a thin sheet of rubber and an elastic, fabric sheet vulcanized together, said unit constituting the vamp, top, quarters, and portions of the heel of the shoe, said unit being divided centrally to provide a vent opening, the marginal edges along the slit being folded inwardly to provide flaps, a bellows tongue including two fabric sheets substantially similar in shape vulcanized to each other, one of said sheets being larger than the other to provide attaching marginal portions, corresponding marginal portions of the tongue being vulcanized to the inwardly folded rubber faces of the marginal portions forming said flaps, a slide fastener having the stringers thereof vulcanized to the upper along the lengthwise edges of the vent opening in the upper defined by the fold-line of said flaps, a fly associated with the vent opening vulcanized to the stringers and to the outer face of the upper adjacent the stringers, said fly having a fabric liningstrip vulcanized to the middle part of the same and extending lengthwise thereof, and sole and heel members associated with the upper.

3. In a waterproof overshoe and in combination an elastic, light, flexible, fabriclined upper comprising an. upper unit formed from a sheet of thin rubber and anelastic, fabric sheet -vulcanized together, said unit constituting the vamp, top, quarters, and portions of the heel of the shoe, and being split centrally to provide a vent opening,

' the marginal edges along the slit being folded inwardly to provide flaps, a bellows tongue including two fabric sheets, substantially similar in shape, vulcanized to each other, one of said sheets being larger than the other to provide attaching marginal portions, corresponding marginal portions of the tongue being vulcanized to the inwardly folded rubber faces of the marginal portions forming said flaps, a slide fastener having the stringers thereof vulcanized to the upper along the lengthwise edges of the vent opening in the upper defined by the fold-line of said flaps, a fly associated with the vent opening vulcanized to the stringers and to the outer face of the upper adjacent the stringers. and sole and heel members associated with the upper.

5. In a shoe and in combination, an upper unit comprising a thin sheet of rubber and a sheet of elastic fabric vulcanized thereto and of substantially the same shape but of less area to provide marginal unlined attaching parts, said sheet being slit centrally to provide a vent opening, a tongue having a mar ginal edge portion vulcanized to the outer face of said unit parallel and contiguous to one edge of said slit, and a part of said tongue vulcanized to the upper u'nit adjacent the closed end of the vent opening, a slide fastener including parallel stringers vulcanized to the upper along the sides of the vent openin g, a fly strip vulcanized to the stringers and adjacent part of the upper for concealing the fastener, and sole and heel members associated with the upper.

6. In a shoe and in combination, an upper unit comprising a thin sheet of rubber and asheet of elastic fabric vulcanized thereto, and of substantially the same shape, but of less areathan the same, to provide marginal unlined attaching parts, said sheet being slit centrally to provide a vent opening and hav ing marginal portions along the slit turned inwardly to provide attaching flaps, a bel lows tongue comprising a central wedgeshaped portion and side wings, said tongue including two skin coated fabric sheets of substantially the same shape, but one of less area than the other to provide exposed marginal attaching surfaces, the coated faces of the sheet being joined by vulcanization, the attaching portions of said wings being vulcanized to the portions of the upper unit con; stituting the flaps aforesaid, the marginal portion at the apex of the tongue being vulcanized to the upper unit adjacent the upper end of the vent opening, a slide fastener including parallel stringers vulcanized to the uppers along the sides of the vent openings, 2, fly vulcanized to the stringers and adjacent parts of the upper for concealing the fastener, and sole and heel members associated with the upper, substantially as described.

7. In a waterproof overshoe, an upper unit, tongue, and slide fastener assembly comprising, athin sheet of rubber having vulcanized slit therein extending from its upper edge towards the portion thereof forming the vamp of the shoe, a bellows tongue of substantially arrow-head shape, comprising a central section and two wing sections, the

tongue including two skim coated sheets f fabric of substantially the same shape but one of less area than the other, with their coated faces in adhering contact, the sheet of larger area having exposed along the longer edges of the tongue and at the apex thereof marginal attaching surfaces, the length- Wise attaching surfaces being in adhering contact with the length-wise surfaces of the outer face of the upper located parallel and contiguous to said slit in the upper, and the attaching surface at the apex of the tongue being in adhering contact with the upper adjacent the closed end of said slit, the fastener member comprising stringers in adhering contact with the outer surface of the upper and parallel to the marginal portionto which the tongue is attached, said stringers having marginal edge portions unattached to the upper, providing surfaces to which the interlocking members are attached and spaces for the travel of the slide member of the fastener member.

8. A shoe of the galosh type having an upper divided at the front to form an opening, the margins of the upper adjacent'the opening being turned inwardly, a slide fastener having stringer tapes joined to said upper over the opening, a flexible slit-covering strip for concealing said fastener and a bellows tongue so joined to said inwardly turned margins as to provide therewith a" clearance channel for the slider of said fastener.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my si ature.

RALPH E. R EY. 

